Josh Schaefer Photography
KEVIN MITCHELL
STARPHOENIX
Charlie Power admits he felt doubtful when his coaches told him it was time to stop tackling people, and to start catching footballs.
That skepticism is completely gone, especially after the Calgary Stampeders selected the University of Saskatchewan Huskies’ linebacker-turned-slotback in the fourth round of Monday’s CFL Canadian college draft.
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| Josh Schaefer photography |
Power, who went 28th overall, is one of two Huskies chosen Monday. Defensive end and long-snapper Levi Steinhauer went to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the fifth round, 40th overall.
“When I was first told I’d switch to receiver (prior to last season), there was some mixed feelings. But it was obviously a good decision,” says the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Power, who flashed athleticism, size and solid hands last season during his first crack as a receiver at the CIS level.
“It was a hard switch. You’re using totally different muscle groups, and I was fairly sore running all those routes for a while, and picking up the offence was tough. But after the Regina game (on Sept. 21, when he caught six passes for 65 yards), I felt I was getting into the groove.”
Power finished with 18 catches for 231 yards and two touchdowns. He’d spent his first three seasons with the Huskies, including one redshirt, as a little-used linebacker. But he played both ways at Holy Trinity Academy in Okotoks, where he grew up, and the Huskies decided it was time to see what he could do on the other side of the line.
Power’s physical potential was evident during 2012 training-camp testing when he benched 220 pounds 26 times, second on the team, while running a 4.55 in the 40-yard dash and tying for first place in the agility test.
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| Josh Schaefer photography |
He’s told he projects as a fullback at the CFL level and expects to go into Stampeders’ camp at that position. He grew up cheering for the Stampeders, which adds a little extra flavour to his selection by that team.
Steinhauer, meanwhile, is the second local long-snapper in recent weeks to receive big news on the professional football front. Saskatoon native Jorgen Hus, now with the Regina Rams, signed a free-agent contract with the NFL’s St. Louis Rams. Hus was also drafted Monday in the fourth round, 31st overall by the Edmonton Eskimos.
“When you’re young, you’re told (long-snapping) is a good skill to know,” Steinhauer said Monday. “Seeing (Hus) sign down there … it’s definitely nice to see that can happen.”
The Roughriders attended Huskies’ spring camp this past weekend and timed Steinhauer’s snaps, so he knew that they were interested.
The Moose Jaw native cheered for the Roughriders while growing up, and he said their choice “means a lot to me.
“It’s the team everybody from Saskatchewan wants to play for.”
Power, meanwhile, learned about his selection while eating sushi at a local restaurant during a lunch-hour break from work. A friend texted him with the surprising news. He thought there was a good chance he’d get drafted, but figured it was more likely he’d go in the late rounds, given his limited offensive experience.
“I’ve been learning new things this last year and a half, and it’s been great,” Power said. “I love linebacker, but this whole experience … I couldn’t say a bad thing about it. I’ve loved it.”